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<br />The Gensler Research Institute is a network of researchers within Gensler with
<br />a singular focus: developing a deeper understanding of the connection between
<br />design, business, and the human experience.
<br />Research is an investment in our future that empowers our teams
<br />to seek answers to the pressing questions facing our clients
<br />everyday. We view research as central to our ability to support
<br />our clients, lead our industry, and properly fulfill our role as
<br />global citizens and designers. Taking calculated risks in search
<br />of solutions has been part of our firm’s DNA since its founding.
<br />Our research program, which today embraces every practice area
<br />across our global markets, takes this to a new level. Core to this
<br />commitment is the knowledge that great design is value-added.
<br />Our research teams seek to put design in the context of larger
<br />business and social issues, ensuring that every strategy and every
<br />solution makes a difference where it really matters.
<br />The Gensler Research Institute is exploring equitable
<br />design solutions to create diverse spaces for our clients and
<br />communities. A recent project that Elaine Asal worked on:
<br />Models for Co-Creation & Partnership with the
<br />Black Community
<br />We must center and prioritize the Black community in our design
<br />decisions and planning processes. Large-scale design decisions
<br />have deepened (and continue to reinforce) segregation and
<br />disenfranchisement in under-resourced BIPOC communities
<br />in the name of progress and profit. How can Gensler empower
<br />Black communities in the design and development process
<br />through inclusive models of partnership that facilitate equitable
<br />co-creation and engagement? Key findings from the research:
<br />• Productive partnership is impossible without understanding
<br />past and existing power dynamics. Approach communities in
<br />a way that acknowledges the past and takes a collaborative
<br />approach to building a better future. Center the lived
<br />experience of community members and engage them as
<br />partners.
<br />• Allocate and share resources appropriately—and generously.
<br />When working with community-based organizations, be
<br />respectful of a community’s time, resources, and capacity.
<br />Recognize the value of people’s time and compensate
<br />partners accordingly.
<br />• Building a more equitable design process requires time,
<br />vulnerability, and accountability. In order to show up as
<br />meaningful partners, we need to examine our own practices
<br />and business models. Being honest about our role in shaping
<br />the built environment—and it’s positive and negative
<br />impacts—can be uncomfortable. Commit to doing the work
<br />for however long the work takes.
<br />f.OCNC Experience & Qualifications
<br />The Gensler Research Institute
<br />Center for Research on Equity and the
<br />Built Environment, formed in the wake of
<br />George Floyd’s murder and the growing Black
<br />Lives Matter Movement, is directly focused on
<br />addressing issues of systemic racism, inequity,
<br />and social injustice through the lens of the
<br />built environment.
<br />METHODOLOGY
<br />We conducted 11 in-depth, structured interviews with Black professionals from a variety
<br />of sectors, including community-based non-profits, architecture/planning, art/culture,
<br />academia, government, and media/journalism. We complemented these interviews with
<br />a review of secondary sources that included background readings, lectures, and existing
<br />resources/guides relating to equity-based community engagement.
<br />MODELS FOR CO-CREATION
<br />AND PARTNERSHIP WITH
<br />THE BLACK COMMUNITY
<br />© 2022
<br />We must center and prioritize
<br />the Black community in
<br />our design decisions and
<br />planning processes.
<br />Large-scale design decisions have deepened
<br />(and continue to reinforce) segregation and
<br />disenfranchisement in under-resourced BIPOC
<br />communities in the name of progress and profit.
<br />How can Gensler empower Black communities
<br />in the design and development process through
<br />inclusive models of partnership that facilitate
<br />equitable co-creation and engagement?
<br />1 Gensler Research Institute | Models for Co-Creation and Partnership with the Black Community
<br />HISTORICAL CONTEXT
<br />Urban planning practices in the United States
<br />have created physical and economic segregation
<br />through policy, planning, and infrastructural
<br />systems. For example, initiatives like the Federal-
<br />Aid Highway Act of 1956 (which provided funding
<br />for the construction and design of freeways
<br />and interstate highways) and urban renewal
<br />policies enabled by the Housing Act of 1949
<br />(which provided cities with funding to modernize
<br />local neighborhoods) resulted in the intentional
<br />destruction of Black communities, the widespread
<br />displacement of residents, and the disruption
<br />and/or demolition of Black-owned homes and
<br />businesses.
<br />As designers and planners, it is essential to center
<br />and prioritize Black communities in our design
<br />decisions and planning processes. If we are better
<br />able to collaborate with community stakeholders,
<br />we can actively work toward a more equitable
<br />built environment and not perpetuate oppressive
<br />building practices.
<br />DATA & INSIGHTS
<br />As part of the world’s largest architecture firm, it
<br />is our responsibility to enact a model reparative
<br />planning and design process. What will it take to
<br />incorporate this new process systematically and
<br />authentically into our projects? Throughout our
<br />conversations, we identified 10 key findings and
<br />themes (see boxed text) to help us attain this goal:
<br />KEY FINDINGS
<br />Productive partnership is impossible
<br />without understanding past and existing
<br />power dynamics. Approach communities
<br />in a way that acknowledges the past and
<br />takes a collaborative approach to building a
<br />better future. Center the lived experience of
<br />community members and engage them as
<br />partners.
<br />Allocate and share resources
<br />appropriately—and generously.
<br />When working with community-based
<br />organizations, be respectful of a community’s
<br />time, resources, and capacity. Recognize
<br />the value of people’s time and compensate
<br />partners accordingly.
<br />Building a more equitable design
<br />process requires time, vulnerability, and
<br />accountability. In order to show up as
<br />meaningful partners, we need to examine our
<br />own practices and business models. Being
<br />honest about our role in shaping the built
<br />environment—and it's positive and negative
<br />impacts—can be uncomfortable. Commit to
<br />doing the work for however long the work takes.
<br />Listen, learn, and atone.
<br />The design field has a lot to
<br />atone for—past and present.
<br />Research the embedded social
<br />histories of each site. Listen to
<br />communities and their lived
<br />experience to learn how repair
<br />can happen. This is a challenging
<br />process—expect discomfort.
<br />“ People need to be restored just
<br />as much as buildings do. Let the
<br />community tell you how they can be
<br />healed from past harms.”
<br />AfroUrbanist & Equity Facilitator,
<br />Detroit, MI
<br />Build capacity and share
<br />resources. Community-based
<br />organizations may not have
<br />the resources and technical
<br />expertise that large firms have.
<br />Be patient and generous by
<br />sharing knowledge, tools, and
<br />materials to build up capacity
<br />when needed. This could include
<br />holding workshops locally and
<br />assisting with RFP processes and
<br />business development; sharing
<br />marketing resources such as
<br />graphic design and layout
<br />assistance for proposals; and/or
<br />providing the training and tools
<br />for communities to be involved
<br />in their own design research.
<br />“ What if we de-centered Gensler and
<br />was an AOR for an MBE firm—
<br />how can we build up someone who
<br />needs it?”
<br />Senior Designer, Chicago, IL
<br />“ Start by RFP writing together and
<br />co-create the project—formalized
<br />MOU agreements are huge — full
<br />transparency from beginning.”
<br />Senior Designer, Baltimore, MD
<br />Start early and lead with
<br />honesty. Clearly define the role
<br />of community and engagement
<br />in a project (informing versus
<br />influencing) and how decisions are
<br />being made. And start by bringing
<br />the community into the project as
<br />early as possible to align goals and
<br />priorities and draft proposals in
<br />partnership. Be honest with what
<br />is and isn’t possible—transparency
<br />and communication throughout
<br />the design process are key.
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<br />Docusign Envelope ID: EA417244-1B08-4F71-884E-045B78625FB7
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